Make in India: CFTRI shows the way in food processing

It has been working on innovative solutions to benefit the industry, farmers, and stakeholders

January 02, 2016 12:00 am | Updated September 22, 2016 09:16 pm IST - Mysuru:

Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Harsh Vardhan will visit the Central Food Technological Research Institute in Mysuru on January 4.

Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Harsh Vardhan will visit the Central Food Technological Research Institute in Mysuru on January 4.

The Mysuru-based Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) has organised a number of events to showcase its initiatives towards ‘Make in India’ in food processing during the visit of Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Harsh Vardhan on January 4.

Make in India is an ambitious programme launched by the Government of India to seek leadership role for the country in the manufacturing sector. Accordingly, the CFTRI has been working on innovative solutions in food processing to benefit the industry, farmers and other stakeholders.

During his visit, Dr. Vardhan will address the audience. Pratap Simha, Member of Parliament, and Girish Sahni, Director-General, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, will be guests of honour. Ram Rajasekharan, director, CSIR-CFTRI, will preside.

Sugarcane processing unit

The Minister will launch an Integrated Sugarcane Processing Unit, which will support crushing of cane, processing and bottling operations. Sugarcane farmers can directly bring their produce and get it processed for the preparation of bottled juices for marketing. The product will have four-month shelf-life.

Dr. Vardhan will also release carbonated fruit juice products that incorporate 20 per cent of natural fruit juices. The move will help farmers and consumers. Importantly, the CFTRI has standardised carbonated drinks based on grape, apple and pomegranate.

A one-day business meet titled ‘catalysing Make in India for growth in agri-food processing’ has been organised. Around 50 CEOs from the industry will attend various sessions, which include Make in India: challenges and opportunities, government policy initiatives, ecosystem for startups, R&D linkages with industry and regulatory issues. Also, under the Rural Development Programme of CSIR, CFTRI has undertaken activities towards the village empowerment, which include establishment of papad processing unit, donating water filtrations units to anganwadi, introduction of new super food seed varieties and ICT activities. The equipment will be released to an SHG working at Puttegowdana Hundi by Mr. Simha.

The Centre for Food Nanotechnology will also be inaugurated on the occasion. The centre would focus on applications of nanotechnology in food that has importance for food industry and consumers.

The CFTRI is already working on many solutions such as nano delivery of food bioactive compounds, solid lipid nano particles, and biopolymer-based nano particles, a press release said.

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